Fouché, Part II: The Statesman and His Fall
Harold Kurtz describes how for nearly ten years, in two spells of office, the Republican Fouché was the virtual head of the internal government of France under the increasing Traditionalism of Napoleon’s rule.
Although Fouché had been Minister of Police for only three months when General Bonaparte made his bid for supreme power in the coup d’etat of Brumaire (November 9th and 10th, 1799), the First Consul and his colleagues confirmed him in office afterwards. His contribution to the success of the great venture had been comparatively modest.
On the second day, when Bonaparte was to win over the elected representatives of France assembled at Saint-Cloud, Fouché, cautiously remaining in Paris, had sent Thurot, Secretary-General at his Ministry, to Saint-Cloud with orders to keep him informed. “Success,” said this man to Lavallette, “is essential. I know my Minister well enough to foretell that he would make you pay dearly for the crime of failure.”
As is well known, success at Saint-Cloud came, not through Bonaparte’s persuasions, but through Murat’s grenadiers, and the First Consul learnt only later that Fouché at Paris had made all preparations to have him and his fellow-conspirators arrested should the attempt fail.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
